Float chamber



Jan. 17, 1939. Wl H HERMSDORF 2,143,878

' FLOAT CHAMBER Jan.. 17,1939,

W. H. HERMSDQRF FLOAT lCMMBER Filed Aug. e, 1936 2 sheets-'sheet 2 Patented Jan. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FLOAT CHALIBER Walter H. Hermsdorf, Chicago,

mesne assignments, to Chain Corporation, Chicago, aware Application August 6,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves for float chambers, and refers specifically to a valve which under predetermined circumstances is automatically controlled by a float and which under other predetermined circumstances is controlled by more positive means.

Float operated valves for chambers wherein a predetermined level of liquid is maintained are well known. However, the use of such valves is more or less restricted by the pressure of the liquid entering the chamber. For example, if the pressure is too high, floats are usually incapable of supplying sufficient force to properly seat the valve, unless they are made excessively large, and consequently leakage takes place. Leverage arrangements of floats have also been used but even with the mechanical advantage thus secured the force provided by the usual float is frequently insufficient to securely seat the valve and prevent leakage.

In one form of air-gas generator, to be hereinafter more fully described, a chamber is provided wherein a constant level of liquid is to be maintained, said liquid level being controlled by a float. It is imperative that the valve controlling passage of the liquid to the chamber be positively acting, particularly during periods in which the air-gas generator is inoperative.

My present invention contemplates a valve actuating mechanism for a float chamber wherein during certain periods, for instance in the case of the air-gas generator above mentioned during the period of gas generation, the inlet to the chamber will be controlled by the float, and during other periods, for instance during the period when the air-gas generator is inoperative, the inlet to the chamber will be controlled by more positive means.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, parts being shown in section, of an air-gas generator with which my invention may be used.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, parts being shown in section, of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the float valve and chamber comprising my invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings I, I indicate angle irons upon which a platform 2 is mounted, the platform comprising longitudinal frame members 3 and transverse members 4. An electric motor 5 is mounted upon the platform 2 and Ill., assigner, by Store Products Ill., a corporation of Del- 1936, Serial No. 94,614

disposed also upon said platform is a blower unit 6. The blower unit B comprises a rotary air compressor 'I of conventional construction and a pressure chamber 8. The shaft 9 of the motor is coupled to shaft Ill of the compressor 'I by means of a conventional flexible coupling II whereby motor 5 may drive the rotary compressor 1.

The pressure chamber 8 is adapted to contain a quantity of lubricating oil I2 which furnishes lubrication to the rotary compressor l. A conduit I3 may project through the center of the pressure chamber 8 and it may be provided with an open end I4 at its upper portion. The pressure chamber 8 is covered at its top by means of a closure I5 and a flexible disc I6 of rubber-like material is confined between the upper portion of the pressure chamber and the closure I5. A rigid metallic disc I'I is positioned above the disc I3 and a coil spring I8 confined within the closure I5 is adapted to exert downward pressure upon the disc I'I. The open end I4 'of the conduit I3 is disposed adjacent the lower face of the disc I8 and by means of the spring I8 the disc I6 seats upon the upper end of the conduit in the manner of a spring pressed valve. The material comprising the disc I8 has characteristics of flexibility and also is impervious to hydrocarbon oils or vapors. Such rubber-like materials are well known to the art. I

A nipple I9 threadedly connects the interior of the lower end of the conduit I3 to a T-coupling 28. The opposite leg of the Tcoupling 2li is joined by means of union 2l to a tube 22. The tube 22 has a tapered interior surface as shown at 23 in Fig. 1 and provides a conventional Venturi tube. 'I'he tube 22 is coupled by means of union 24 to pipe 25 which connects into the upper portion of a gas compartment 26 provided within tank 21. The tank 21 is divided into two sections by means of partition 28, one section comprising the gas compartment 26 and the other section 29 comprising a liquid compartment in which a quantity of hydrocarbon oil such as pentane or the like is contained, as shown at 30 in Fig. 1.

A vaporizer 3l having a liquid or vapor compartment 32 is connected to the tube 22, the vapor compartment 32 connecting at the neck of the venturi. Beneath the vapor compartment 32 is a compartment 33 which is adapted to carry an electrical heating unit (not shown) which may be connected to a source of electricity by means of conductors (not shown) carried within conduit 34.

A float chamber 35 is suspended by means of rod 36 from platform 2 and is positioned immediately above the liquid compartment'29 of tank 21. A pipe 31 connects the lower end of the oat chamber 35 to the liquid compartment 28. A pipe 38 connects the upper portion of the float chamber 35 to the third leg 39 of the T-coupling 20 and a pipe 49 connects the upper portion 4| of the pressure chamber 8 with the top of the float chamber 35.

A compartment 42 is formed within the pressure chamber 8 and is separated from the compartment 4| by means of partition 43. An opening 44 is provided in the partition 43 and connects with a check valve 45, the purpose of which will lbe hereinafter more fully described. A-pipe 55 connects into the compartment 42 and at its opposite end said pipe connects into the upper portion of the liquid compartment 29. The vapor chamber 32 of the vaporizer 3| connects into la portion 41 of the float chamber 35. Y The device hereinbefore described is an air-gas generator wherein a combustible liquid such vas pentane or the like may be associated with air in order to form a combustiblev gas which can be used for household or industrial purposes. In this type of air-gas generator a quantity of combustible liquid 30 is charged into the liquid compartment 29 of the `tank 21. The motor 5 is then actuated to drive the rotary compressorvl, which is provided with an intake (not shown) through which atmospheric air passes into the compressor. The compressor in turn discharges the compressed air into'the compartment 4|. The compressed air in said compartment is permitted to pass through the' check valve 45 which operates to permit the passage of air from the compartment 4| to the compartment 42 but prevents reverse passage of the air. The compressed air thus passed into compartment 4Z is conveyed by means of pipe 46 to the upper portion of the liquid compartment 29 and a condition of superatmospheric pressure is established within the liquid compartment 29. When a predetermined superatmospheric presssure has been reached within the liquid compartment 25 the pressure within the compartment 4| increases to such a value that the force exerted upon the lower face of the disc I6 exceeds the compressive force of the spring |8 and the disc I6 lifts from the top of the conduit |3. When this condition occurs air under superatmospheric pressure within compartment 4| passes downwardly through conduit I3 and through the Venturi tube 22 and into the gas: storage compartment 26.

As will be hereinafter more fully described, simultaneously with the passage of air through the conduit I3 in the manner hereinabove described, liquid 38 from the liquid compartment 29 is passed upwardly, by means of the superatmospheric pressure within said compartment, to the oat chamber 35. Subsequently said liquid is discharged from thefloat chamber 35 to the vaporizer 3|, the liquid passing through the vaporizing space 32 wherein it is vaporized by the heat from the heater within the heating compartment 33. The vapors thus formed are induced into the stream of air passing the Venturi tube 22 and mix with said air to form a combustible gas which is discharged into the'gas storage compartment 26. When the gas pressure within the storage compartment 25 reaches a predetermined maximum value a pressure operated switch (not shown) functions to disconnect mo- .tor 5 from its source of electrical supply` As gas is withdrawn for use from the gas storage compartment 26 the pressure within said com' partment decreases until it reaches a predetermined minimum value at which time the pressure operated switch functions to energize motor 5 and the operation is thus repeated.

This type of air-gas generator forms the subject matter of patent applications previously led by me. However, my present invention is not directed to the air gas generator per se but is specifically `directed to the mechanism comprising the oat chamber 35, said float chamber being particularly adaptable with a system such as has been hereinbefore described.

The chamber 35, illustrated n section in Fig. 3, comprises an outer casing 48 which is open at its top and bottom. The bottom is provided with a closure 49 which is'threadedly secured as at 5i) to the inner walls of the lower portion of the casing 48. The closure 49 is provided with a bore 5| into which a bushing 52 is threadedly secured. The pipe 31 which leads from the liquid compartment 29 of tank 21 connects into bushing 52. The closure 49 is also provided with a counterbore 53 which opens into the bore 5| at one end and into the interior 54 of the casing 48 at its other end. A sleeve 55 is rigidly positioned in the counterbore 53 and projects upwardly from the closure into the interior of the casing 48.

The sleeve 55 is provided with a central bore 56 which provides communication between the pipe 31 and the interior 54 of the casing' 48. A pin 51 is adapted to be positioned co-axially within the bore 55, said pin carrying a valve 58 at its lower end, said valve being of conventional conical construction. To control the communication between pipe 31 and the interior of the casing 48 the Valve 58 may be adapted, as will be hereinafter more fully described, to seat upon the lower edge of the bore 56 The upper open end of the casing 48 is provided with a closure 59, said closure being adaptedy to be secured to the casing 48 by means of screws 65 or the like.A A flexible diaphragm or disc 6|, constructed of a material similar to the disc I6, is confined between the closure 59 and the upper portion of the casing 48 and the inner face of the closure is dished, as shown at 5|', to provide a space 52 between the inner face of the closure and the upper surface of the diaphragm 5 The closure 59 is provided with an aperture 53 into which the end of pipe 48 is threadedly positioned and communication is established between pipe @il and the space 62 above the 4exible diaphragm 5|.

A frame 54 constructed in the form of a square having sides 65, 66, 51 and 58 is positioned within the interior 54 of the casing 48, the upper portion. of said frame being disposed closely adjacent the lower face of the diaphragm 6|. A float 69 is adapted to be disposed within the square frame 84 and the upper end of the pin 51 is secured, by means of pin 10 to boss 1| formed integral with the lower portion of the float 69, pin 51 passing through an opening provided within the lower side 61 of the square frame 64. A boss 12 is formed integral with the lower side 61 of the frame 54 and a cylindrical guide 13 is in turn formed integral with the boss 12, said guide being adapted to be positioned within counter bore 14 provided inthe upper portion of the sleeve 55. Sleeve 55 is provided with a slot 15 in which a pin 16 carried by the valve pin 51 is disposed whereby pin 51 may be moved along the axis of the bore 56 and is prevented from being cantedy therein. A coil spring 11 embraces that portion of sleeve 55 which projects into the interior 54 `of the casing 48and is confined between the boss 12 upon the lower side 61 of the frame -64 and the closure 49.

The portion 41 of the oat chamber 35 defines a compartment 18 which is closed at its upper end by means of a screw plug 18. The compartment 18 is separated from the interior proper of the casing 48 by partition 88 and a bore 8| is provided in said partition. A tube 82 is positioned in the bore 8| and projects downwardly into the interior 54 of the casing 48, the upper end of said tube being exteriorly threaded as at 83 to secure the tube within the bore 8|. The tube 82 opens at its lower end adjacent the bottom of the interior 54 of the casing 48 and the upper end of said tube is provided with a nut 84 which in turn is provided with an aperture 85 which provides communication between the interior 54 of the casing 48 and the compartment 18. As has been hereinbefore described, the vaporizer 3| connects into the member 41 and the vaporizing space 32 of the vaporizer is in communication with the compartment 18.

In the operation of my device when a predetermined superatmospheric pressure is established within the liquid compartment 29 of the tank 21 a quantity of the liquid 30 is passed upwardly through the pipe 31 and through bore 56 into the interior 54 of the casing 48 establishing a body 88 of liquid within the casing 48. The casing 48 is provided with an aperture 81 into which pipe 38 connects. Hence, when the rotary compressor 1 is set in operation air under pressure is delivered to the pressure chamber 4| and when the pressure within said chamber reaches a predetermined maximum value air is passed through the conduit I3. By means of the pipe 38 which provides communication between the T-coupling 28 and the interior 54 of the casing 48 pressure is established within the casing 48. A quantity of liquid is thereby forced upwardly through the tube 82 and into the vaporizing space 32 of the vaporizer 3|. However, when the rotary compressor 1 is in operation air under superatmospheric pressure is passed through the pipe 48 to the space 62 thereby establishing a condition of superatmospheric pressure above the exible diaphragm 6|. The diaphragm 6| is thereby deiiected downwardly against the top of the frame 64 and moves said frame against the force of the coil spring 11. It can readily be seen that when frame 84 thus moves the float 8S will function to open or close the end of bore 56 depending upon the level of the liquid 88. Although pressure is established within the casing 48 by means of the air transferred thereto through pipe 38, said pressure would be less than the pressure of the air passed through pipe 48 to the space 82. It can readily be seen that by the provision of the spring pressed disc I5, said disc, when the predetermined maximum pressure has been built up with the space 4| will raise against the force of spring I8. The disc i6 therefore acts as a pressure reducing valve and the pressure within the conduit I3 and hence within the T 28 will be less than the pressure in the pressure chamber 4I.

When the predetermined maximum pressure has been reached within the gas compartment 28 the pressure operated switch (not shown) will function to stop motor 5 and hence the pressure within the compartment 4I will diminish permitting frame 64 to move upwardly under the influence of coil spring 11. It can readily be seen that as said frame moves upwardly the upper face of the lower edge 61 of said frame contacts the boss 1| of the float 69 causing the float to be carried upwardly with the frame until the valve 58 seats at the lower edge of the bore 56. The pressure which maintains the valve 58 in seated position is derived from the spring 11 and consequently when the air-gas generator is inoperative the pressure within the liquid compartment 29, which is maintained by means of the check valve 45, will not force liquid past the valve 58 and into the casing 48. By this means liquid is prevented from being delivered. from the float chamber 35 to the vaporizer 3| except when the air-gas generator is in operation.

Although my invention is particularly utilizable in conjunction with the system hereinbefore described, it is to be understood that the same may be used in other environments wherever it is desirable to maintain a positive valving action at one period and secure the benefits of a float operative valve at other periods. Hence, I do not wish to be limited in the specic application Vof my invention hereinbefore described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valve controlling said inlet, a oat rigidly secured to said Valve, a member disposed within said casing and movably associated with said float, resilient means normally urging said member into Contact with said iloat to seat said valve, a flexible diaphragm disposed within said casing adjacent a portion of said member, and means for subjecting the surface of said diaphragm to superatmospheric pressure to move said member against the impelling force of the resilient means and away from said oat whereby said oat is free to move in response to the level of liquid within said casing.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, said inlet being at the bottom of the casing, a valve controlling said inlet, a stem on which said valve is carried which projects upwardly into said casing, a float rigidly secured to said stem, a member disposed within said casing and movably associated with said float, resilient means normally urging said member upwardly into contact with said oat to seat said valve, a flexible diaphragm disposed within said casing closely adjacent and above said member, and means for subjecting the upper surface of the diaphragm to pressure to move said member downwardly against the force of the resilient means and away from said float whereby said float is free to move in response to the level of liquid within said casing.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valve controlling said inlet, a oat rigidly secured to said valve, a member disposed within said casing, and movably associated with said float, resilient means normally urging said member into contact with said oat to seat said valve, a exible diaphragm disposed within said casing adjacent said member, and a pipe connecting into said casing for delivering fluid under superatmospheric pressure into contact with said diaphragm surface to move said member against the impelling force of the resilient means and away from said float whereby said float is free to move in response to thelevel of liquid within said casing.

4. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valve controlling said inlet, a float rigidly secured to said valve, a member disposed within said casing and movably associated with said float, means for guiding said member in its movement in said casing, resilient means normally urging said member into contact with said float to seat said valve, a flexible diaphragm disposed within said casing adjacent said member, and means for subjecting the surface of said diaphraginto superatmospheric pressure to move said member against the impelling force of the resilient means, and away from said float whereby said float is free to move in response to the level of liquid within said casing.

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valve controlling said inlet, a iloat rigidly secured to said valve, a member disposed within said casing and movably associated with said iioat, resilient means normally urging said member into contact with said float to seat said valve, a iiexible diaphragm disposed Within said casing, adjacent said member, means for subjecting the surface of said diaphragm to Superatmospheric pressure to move said member against the impelling force of the resilient means and away from said oat whereby said iloat is free to move in response to the level of liquid within said casing, and means for guiding said float in its movement in the casing.

6. A device of the class describedvcomprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, said inlet being at the bottom of the casing, a Valve controlling said inlet, vsaid valve acting upwardly to close said inlet, a stem on which said valve is carried which projects upwardly into said casing, a float connected to said stem which acts upwardly to close said valve, a member disposed within said casing and movably associated with said oat, resilient means normally urging said member upwardly into contact with said float to seat said valve, a flexible diaphragm disposed within said casing closely adjacent and above said member, and means for subjecting the upper surface of the diaphragm to pressure to move said member downwardly against the force of the resilient means and away from said float, whereby said float is lfree to move in response to the level of liquid within said casing.

'7. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valve controlling said inlet, a float secured to said valve, a member disposed Within said casing and movably associated with said valve, resilient means normally urging said member into position to close said valve, an element movable by superatmospheric pressure disposed within said casing adjacent a portion of said member and means for establishing superatmospheric pressure upon said element to move the same against the impelling force of the resilient means and to inoperative position with respect to said valve whereby said float is free to move said valve in response to the level of liquid within said casing.

WALTER H. HERMSDORF. 

